Suspended jail term for flasher who targeted lone women

Thomas John Brandling exposed himself to at least four women on the former Bishop Auckland to Brandon railway line, in County Durham, over a fortnight.

His activities brought fear to female users of the popular path, and led to many women avoiding it for walks, runs and rides, or only going accompanied by friends or partners.

Brandling, 49, of Scripton Gill, Brandon, near Durham City, admitted three charges of exposure and asked for a further similar offence to be taken into consideration.

The married father-of-two was yesterday given a fourmonth jail sentence, suspended for two years, during which he must undergo a sex offender treatment programme as part of a two-year probation supervision order.

He was also banned from using the walkway for ten years by Judge Peter Kelson at Durham Crown Court.

Brandling must also wear at least one item of clothing over his underwear while in public.

David Crook, prosecuting, said that in one incident, on March 27, a female cyclist saw him in nearby trees, exposing himself to her, with his trousers round his knees.

He targeted a female jogger, flashing from bushes near the walkway, early on the evening of April 8, and two days later struck again as a woman ran by, while two young girls were standing nearby.

There was also a report of a similar incident on April 1.

He was caught following police surveillance.

Adrian Dent, for Brandling, said: “He is very sorry and ashamed. He not only apologises to the court, but also to the victims. He recognises he must have caused them distress and fear.

“There were no overt threats or use of violence, albeit he accepts that it must have been worrying.”

Mr Dent said Brandling was suffering a catalogue of difficulties at the time, having lost his job as a branch manager for a truck hire company.

Although he found other employment, it was on a much lower wage and working unfavourable hours.

Brandling must also sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for seven years.